The State government has given the nod to the Calderwood land release - and the first 250 lots will probably be offered for sale before the end of this year.
We have just seen how much loss and misery exceptional rainfall can cause in Queensland and Victoria. Surely the time to put flooding plans in place is when a new subdivision is in the planning stage.
Just what are the flood predictions for Calderwood and the other southern Illawarra building areas ? What is the worst case scenario - and shouldn't we be advising prospective buyers just what conditions will apply to what they can build on those blocks ?
These land releases are supposed to assist low income people put a roof over their heads and today the cheapest way to build is to put a house on a concrete slab. The only problem with that method is height. The floor has zero protection against even a modest flood.
If these new estates are going to be flood prone it should be made clear from the start that councils will only approve flood free designs - and that probably means elevated housing. Elevated housing is more expensive to build than a simple slab based construction - but it will save lives and sanity in the long run.
What is missing is a clear statement on the rules that will apply to house design right from the start - even before these building blocks go on sale. Potential buyers have a right to know what is in store for them when they start to plan a new home - and in some cases they may come to the conclusion that building what is required in a flood area is simply beyond their resources.
That needs to be clear - before they sign on the dotted line !
No comments:
Post a Comment